By ALEXANDER BRUZUAL Saturday, September 15 2012

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LEAVING COURT: Soca Monarch Machel Montano, left, and his mom, Elizabeth Montano, leaving court yesterday. ...

The assault trial involving reigning soca monarch, Machel Montano, and three other soca stars, has been adjourned one final time, as the presiding magistrate in the matter is still reviewing the sizeable amount of evidence, that was brought during the matter.

Although the case was expected to come to a close yesterday, when the matter was called in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Seventh Court, Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor instead apologised to the court, informing the relevant parties that she was still reviewing evidence.

“The court apologises for not being in a position today to deliver the ruling as expected, but I am sure that both the defence and the State are understanding that the court has to carefully consider all of the evidence which is before it,” Baboolal-Gafoor said.

The matter was then adjourned to November 23. Montano is jointly charged with soca artiste Joel “Zan” Fezeck, songwriter and producer Kernel Roberts (son of deceased calypso legend Aldwyn “Kitchener” Roberts) and 2011 Young King Rodney “Benjai” Le Blanc. The four are accused of assaulting Russel Pollonais and Brandis Brown.

Montano, 36, also faces additional charges of assaulting Janelle Lee Chee and Gerard Bowrin, and for using obscene language.

These charges stem from a fracas outside a nightclub at Keate Street in Port-of-Spain on April 26, 2007. The State is being represented by prosecutor George Busby.

Montano is being represented by Dana Seetahal, SC, Roberts is being represented by Keith Scotland, along with Daniel Khan, while Fezeck is defended by Larry Williams. Rajiv Persad, John Heath and Shalini Khan appeared for Le Blanc. The four were first charged on June 4, 2007.